Milan set for French challenge

Milan is set to try to make it third time lucky in a French Group One by attempting to win the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in 11 days' time.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained colt had been mentioned as an Irish Derby possible after an unlucky fifth in the Prix du Jockey Club but confirmation that stable-companion Galileo will be aimed at the Curragh has meant a change in plans.

"Milan is a possible for the French race. Obviously if Galileo runs in the Irish Derby, Milan will not," said O'Brien yesterday. The Grand Prix is run over the same Longchamp 10 furlongs on which Milan finished third in the Prix Lupin last month.

O'Brien and jockey Michael Kinane will be heavily involved at Leopardstown this evening where the remarkable British raider Tumbleweed Ridge will try to extend an already remarkable record in the Ballycorus Stakes.

Brian Meehan's runner is attempting to win the Group Three for a fourth successive year which gives Tumbleweed Ridge a unique position in the history of Irish pattern races. Considering that record, the veteran's chance cannot be ignored but on this occasion the vein of form being shown by the local veteran One Won One could be too much.

The Ballydoyle runner in the Ballycorus is King Charlemagne who O'Brien reports has been slow coming to hand while the highly-regarded Pebble Island is the Michael Tabor representative in the Gallinule.

"Pebble Island had a little bit of a setback and will improve a lot for the run," O'Brien said yesterday.

The top-rated Jammaal may not be unsuited by fast ground and instead Pebble Island may have most to fear from the Derrinstown runner-up Exaltation who is proven on the surface and can notch up a third Gallinule win for John Oxx.

The other black type event is the Listed Rochestown Stakes for juveniles and the course and distance winner Alluring Park can emulate Jim Bolger's subsequent 1994 Heinz winner Eva Luna and lift this prize.

O'Brien runs the $4.4 million Shah Jehan in the opener and the Mr Prospector colt is hard to oppose while the 97-rated Golovin looks the solution to the last.

American jockey Gary Stevens has been forced to give up plans to return to Britain to ride at Royal Ascot next week due to injury. He hurt his knee at Hollywood Park last Sunday.

Stevens scored on Blueprint for Queen Elizabeth at Royal Ascot two years ago.

Referring to the planned trip to Ascot, he added: "It's too risky. With the horses I've got now, Point Given, and some good ones for Neil Drysdale, I don't think it's a good idea. The undulating ground and taking horses to the start by myself might be too much."